Defending champions Royal opened their Singer Under 20 Inter-School rugby tournament with a 45-5 win over new comers to the top division DS Senanayake MV -- (5 Goals, 5 Tries) to 5 (a Try) at the Royal Complex yesterday. Royal led 31-nil at half time.
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| A Royal player is held by the ‘DS’ defense (Pic by Ranjith Perera |
Though the score line would indicate a one way passage to Royal, it was hardly so. DSS who were playing after a lapse of 10 years in the ‘A’ Division gave Royal a torrid time early in the second half. For 20 minutes Royal struggled against the excellent spoiling work of the DSS players.
DSS even scored their solitary try in this half when second rower Mohammed Ershad barged over for an unconverted try off a short tap. At this stage Royal led 32-0.
DSS continued with their excellent tackling and close marking of the Royalists in this half.
It was Arshad Jamaldeen, the Royal skipper who scored and ended their barren run in the second session. Jamaldeen was also on target with his conversion to take Royal to 38 while DSS’s score was stagnant at 5.
With the minutes ticking bye S. Bahudeen touched for Royal and Arshad Jamaldeen converted to take Royal’s final tally to 45.
DSS started the game with a lot of vigour and did not allow Royal to score until the sixth minute of the first half. Prop forward Eroshan de Alwis scored an unconverted try first to put them ahead at 5-0.
Niroshan Jayawardena touched down next and Jamaldeen converted to put Royal further ahead at 12-0. A few minutes later Niroshan Jayawardena scored again and Royal led 17-0. Ijaz Bohran scored next and with Jamaldeen’s kick adding to the score to put Royal further ahead at 24-0. Jamaldeen scored next and converted it himself and Royal led 31-0 at which score half time was taken.
Royal came into the game with victories over Thurstan and Prince of Wales in ‘friendlies’ while DSS earned their promotion to the top division by being runners-up in the Division B category last year. Referee Charith Kodagoda |
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